Tanning Controversy Heats Up Again

Tanning beds have been a hot bed of controversy for years. Many experts say they're more likely to cause skin cancer than the sun. The tanning industry says tanning can be safe, no matter where you

Saturday, February 26th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tanning beds have been a hot bed of controversy for years. Many experts say they're more likely to cause skin cancer than the sun. The tanning industry says tanning can be safe, no matter where you do it.

The number of people soaking up artificial rays is on the rise.

"I just want to be darker I don't want to be pasty white," says Tanner Heather Mercer.

An average day brings 75 to 150 customers to Deloris Gill's south Tulsa tanning salon. She's a retired nurse who says she bought the salon because she wanted to promote safe tanning.

"There is so much negative research out there about tanning and I can't say that tanning in a tanning salon is safe no more than you can say tanning outside is safe," says Gill.

The indoor tanning industry says it's tired of being viewed as a villain. They've kicked off an effort to educate people about the positive effects of artificial light.

"Be safe, don't overdo it," says Kelli Schroeder, business owner.

They say if you are going to tan, the smartest way is not to burn, and they say that is less likely to happen in tanning bed.

"You want to build a base tan before you go out in the sun so if you do burn it's not going to be as intense because you already have it built up," says Schroeder.

One Tulsa dermatologist says protection from the rays is the best prevention from skin cancer and skin damage, but supports some of the indoor tanning industry findings.

"The truth is tanning beds are a little bit safer than natural sun exposure to get the equivalent amount of tan," says Dr. John Ashley.

He says the beds do increase your chance for skin cancer, but not as much as the sun can. Both sides of the tanning bed argument say they realize many people are going to tan no matter what, they just hope they'll do it as safely as possible.

This is the busiest time of year for most tanning salons. They say they caution their customers on the dangers of getting a sunburn, both indoors and out.